Top 10 biggest football scandals ever

Football, with its appeal and drama in each match, has always been a sport that attracts the attention of millions of fans around the world. However, besides the beautiful moves and spectacular victories, this sport is not without scandals that cause a stir in public opinion and damage the reputation of players, coaches and teams. From match-fixing, cheating in matches, to unsportsmanlike behavior of players, football is not lacking in controversial situations. This article Premiumsoccertips.net will review some football scandals in football history, from serious match-fixing cases to disappointing actions from top stars.

Top 10 football scandals​ ever

1. Calciopoli (2006)

The 2006 “Calciopoli” scandal was one of the most serious scandals in the history of European football. It occurred when officials and leaders of several Italian football clubs, including Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio, Reggina and Fiorentina, were found to have colluded with referees to manipulate the results of matches as they wished. This interference took place through the clubs influencing the selection of referees for their matches, thereby gaining an advantage in the results. Juventus, the greatest team of those years, was found to be directly involved, and the team was even stripped of two Serie A titles in the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons. In addition, they were relegated to Serie B in the following season.

Other clubs such as AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina were not spared, although the punishment was not as severe as Juventus. They were deducted points and some faced expulsion from the league. The incident sent shockwaves through the football community, as corruption and unfairness were exposed, causing fans to lose faith in what was going on in Italian football. The individuals involved, including club directors and referees, were banned from football activities and some even faced prison sentences. The scandal not only affected Italian football but also left a bad mark on European football history.

2. The Hand of God (1986)

The match between Argentina and England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup went down in football history not only because of Argentina’s victory but also because of the controversial “Hand of God” incident. Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players of all time, used his hand to put the ball into the net, past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. The move went unnoticed by the referee, despite England’s strong protests. Maradona, with his hand raised in a calculated manner, deliberately handled the ball in a completely illegal move. However, the referee did not see the foul and allowed the goal. This incident led many to believe that Maradona had cheated to win the match for his team, and it became one of the most controversial moves in football history.

Despite the controversy, Maradona continued to prove his talent in this match, scoring another wonderful goal and helping Argentina win 2-1. They eventually won the 1986 World Cup. However, the “Hand of God” left an indelible mark on football history, as it became a symbol of controversy and cheating. Although Maradona is revered as a legend, this moment remains an inseparable part of his career. It is a reminder of the imperfection and sometimes unfairness of sports.

3. Tapiegate (1993)

The “Tapiegate” scandal occurred in France in 1993, when Marseille, the Ligue 1 leaders and Champions League winners, were found guilty of match-fixing. Marseille president Bernard Tapie and general manager Jean-Pierre Bernès asked some Valenciennes players to walk out of a match against their team. Their intention was to ensure a favorable result for Marseille in defending their Ligue 1 title. However, one of Valenciennes’ players, Jacques Glassmann, denounced the action and reported it to the authorities. The scandal saw Marseille stripped of their Ligue 1 title and relegated, as well as losing the Champions League they had just won.

Bernard Tapie and other officials involved in the match-fixing scandal were sentenced to prison and banned from football for life. It was one of the most serious scandals in French football history, tarnishing the image of Marseille and destroying confidence in the fairness of sports competitions. The scandal affected not only Marseille but the entire French football system, forcing tighter regulations and laws on match-fixing and betting in sports. Tapiegate is a dark mark in the history of European football, as it showed the seriousness of corruption in major tournaments.

4. Manchester United-Liverpool match-fixing scandal (1915)

The Manchester United-Liverpool match-fixing scandal of 1915 was one of the first in football history. The match between the two famous teams on Good Friday was crucial in Manchester United’s bid to avoid relegation. However, Liverpool, who were already guaranteed to stay in the league, engaged in a match-fixing scheme with United to help them win and avoid relegation. Players from both teams bet on the match and tried to influence the outcome. United won 2-0, but suspicions were raised when Liverpool showed a lack of interest throughout the match, missed a penalty and acted strangely in attack.

After an investigation, the Football Association (FA) found the match-fixing to be true and banned three Manchester United players and four Liverpool players for life. The scandal is one of the most notable in football history, as it marked the beginning of betting and match-fixing in the sport. Although the bans on the players involved were later lifted, the incident left an indelible mark on the history of English football, prompting football authorities to take stronger measures to prevent cheating.

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5. The Whistle Mafia (2005)

The “Whistle Mafia” scandal occurred in Brazil in 2005 when two referees, Edílson Pereira de Carvalho and Paulo José Danelon, were found to have accepted money to fix matches. These referees influenced matches in the Brazilian National Championship and Second Division, helping the teams they were affiliated with win. This incident caused a wave of indignation in the football community, when the referee, who is supposed to protect justice and fairness, became the one who violated the rules. As a result, both referees were banned from duty for life, a severe punishment for cheating and negatively affecting the fans’ trust in the fairness of football.

In the same year 2005, a similar scandal occurred in Germany with referee Robert Hoyzer, who confessed to participating in a betting and match-fixing ring in cup and lower league matches. Hoyzer was banned from refereeing for life and sentenced to prison for match-fixing. These scandals not only tarnish the image of football but also damage the trust in referees, who are supposed to play a neutral and fair role in each match.

6. Rotten Rojas (1989)

The “El Maracanazo” incident in 1989 plunged Chilean football into a major scandal involving goalkeeper Roberto Rojas during a match against Brazil in the 1990 World Cup qualifiers. With Chile trailing 1-0 to Brazil and needing a win to have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup, Rojas suddenly fell to the ground and claimed that he had been hit by a flare from the stands. The referee and Chilean players immediately called for a stop to the match. However, television cameras captured Rojas not being hit by the flare but rather using a razor blade to injure himself. Rojas’ actions were believed to have been intended to create a reason to stop the match and demand a rematch, thus helping Chile avoid elimination.

When the truth was revealed, the scandal resulted in Chile being eliminated from the 1994 World Cup, while Rojas was banned from football for life. Although Rojas’ ban was later lifted, the incident severely damaged the reputation of Chilean football. It also served as a reminder of the dangers of cheating in sports and the impact it can have on both the team and the country. It also prompted officials to tighten regulations on player conduct and incidents involving spectators at international matches.

7. Amateur Acupuncture (1980s)

Carlos Bilardo, the coach of the Argentine national team, is famous not only for his effective tactics but also for his controversial training methods. In the 1980s, Bilardo was accused of using needles hidden in his socks to stab opponents, forcing them to commit fouls during matches. This gave his team the opportunity to take advantage of free kicks. One of the most famous stories related to this method was in 1990, when Bilardo was accused of instructing his players to use dirty tricks to weaken the Brazilian team in the World Cup quarter-finals. It was also reported that he knew that the water bottles the Brazilian team received during the match were drugged, in order to make the Brazilian players feel tired and unable to play well.

Bilardo’s cheating behavior has not only been heavily criticized, but has also made him a controversial figure in the history of coaching. Although Bilardo won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986, his “low morals” methods caused strong reactions from opponents and fans. Bilardo’s story shows that in football, coaches are not always honest in every situation, and they can go too far to achieve their goals.

8. Teething Problems (Luis Suárez)

Luis Suarez is one of the most talented players in the world, but he has also made fans talk a lot because of his controversial actions. One of his first scandalous incidents was in 2010, when Suárez bit PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal during an Eredivisie match while playing for Ajax. This action not only got him fined but also suspended. However, this did not stop there, because in 2013, while playing for Liverpool, Suárez caused a stir again when he bit Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanović during a Premier League match. Although Suárez apologized and stated that his actions were wrong, he was still banned for 10 matches.

But the most notable incident involving Suárez occurred at the 2014 World Cup. During the match between Uruguay and Italy, Suárez bit Giorgio Chiellini, the Italian defender, in a dispute. This action earned him a heavy penalty from FIFA, a 9-match ban, a 4-month ban from all football-related activities and a fine. Despite being one of the best players, Suárez left a bad mark for unsportsmanlike behavior. These “bites” led many to call him a “vampire” and overshadowed his talent on the pitch.

9. Pepe’s Fury (2009)

Pepe, the Portuguese defender, is known for his aggressive style of play, but he can sometimes go too far in his tackles. In 2009, during a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Getafe, Pepe caused a huge scandal when he kicked Getafe’s Javier Casquero and then stamped on him in a violent act. This action led to a brawl between the two teams and Pepe was banned for 10 matches, while also facing heavy criticism from fans and the media. This was not the first time Pepe had been criticised for violent behaviour on the pitch, and it once again highlighted his disciplinary issues.

However, Pepe’s next notable incident occurred at the 2018 World Cup. During a match against Morocco, Pepe dramatically fell to the ground after being lightly tapped on the back by opponent Medhi Benatia. Although he was not hit hard, Pepe acted as if he had been hit by a cannonball, leading many to believe that he had faked the incident to avoid a booking. This action was criticized by both fans and pundits. Pepe, a defender known for his resilience and strength, was seen as a dishonest player, and such actions tarnished his image in the eyes of many.

10. Acting on the World’s Stage (Rivaldo – World Cup 2002)

One of the most notable scandals in World Cup history was Rivaldo’s actions during the match between Brazil and Türkiye at the 2002 World Cup. In the final seconds of the match, when Brazil was leading 2-1 and had a corner kick, a ball from Turkey’s Hakan Ünsal accidentally touched Rivaldo’s leg, but he pretended that the ball had hit him in the face and fell to the ground. This action made the referee unable to realize the real situation and decided to send Ünsal off the field. However, when reviewing the video, it was clear that the ball only touched Rivaldo’s leg, and he acted in an unsportsmanlike manner to create an advantage for the Brazilian team.

Although Brazil won the match, this moment of “acting” by Rivaldo resulted in him being punished by FIFA. This is a great lesson about honesty and ethics in football, especially in big tournaments like the World Cup. Rivaldo, a talented player, left a bad mark in his career, and this incident also reminds us that fairness is not always guaranteed on the field.

Final Thoughts

Football is not only a competition between excellent teams, but also a sport that fully reflects the elements of humanity, from effort, perseverance, to mistakes and unethical actions. Football scandals have not only tarnished the image of the players or teams involved, but also affected the fans’ belief in fairness in sports. However, each scandal is also a valuable lesson, helping us to have a clearer view of responsibility and ethics in sports. Despite its unfortunate moments, football continues to thrive and be exciting, reminding us that fairness and honesty should always come first.

See more: 2006 Italian Football Scandal​: Calciopoli and the Journey to Winning the World Cup